By Police1 Staff
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is revving up its engines for the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500, this time with a twist that will have race enthusiasts at the edge of their seats.
Benjamin Pedersen, whose exceptional driving skills earned him the prestigious “Fastest Rookie” title for the upcoming Indy 500, switched gears to take on a new kind of challenge – the IMPD’s emergency vehicle operations course (EVOC).
“Don’t know what any of these buttons do, but we’re going to have some fun,” Pederson said with a chuckle, pointing at the array of controls in the IMPD cruiser.
The EVOC is designed to test the abilities of IMPD’s finest in emergency situations – a sharp contrast from the more predictable and controlled environment of a racetrack. It tests not just speed but an array of driving skills including emergency braking, high-speed pursuit, defensive driving and obstacle navigation.
Pedersen’s journey raises an interesting question: Should he stick to his day job or does he have the potential to be a police officer in the fast lanes of emergency response? Check out the video below for the answer.
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